Pacquiao-Barrera Jan. 12 purse bid canceled

The rematch between WBC International super featherweight champ Manny Pacquiao and WBC World super feather weight champ Marco Antonio Barrera will have to wait until the Filipino boxing superstar's problem with his promoter is settled. The World Boxing Council has cancelled the purse bid set for Jan. 12 until the camps of Pacquiao and Barrera have agreed on the amount of compensation the boxers will receive. In a memorandum, WBC president Jose Sulaiman said the boxing governing body decided to investigate as to who shall promote Pacquiao's next fight. Pacquiao had signed a promotional deal with the Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar De La Hoya, which Top Rank's Bob Arum is contesting, saying that it violated his contract with the Filipino boxer. "Due to the current legal situation concerning super featherweight star Manny Pacquiao, the WBC has suspended the purse offer that was scheduled for January 12, 2007 for the mandatory titet defense of WBC champion Marco Antonio Barrera," Sulaiman said. "The WBC is currently researching this situation and will continue doing so until the clarification of the facts for the free negotiations," Sulaiman added. Boxing fans are eagerly awaiting the rematch. Pacquiao won by an 11th round TKO over Barrera in their first fight on Nov. 15, 2003. After the fight, Barrera continued with his career and defeated fellow Mexican boxer Erik Morales on Nov. 27, 2004, to gain the WBC super featherweight title. Pacquiao is coming from a third round knockout win over Morales just last Nov. 18. It was Pacquiao's second win against Morales, who absorbed a 10th round TKO last Jan. 21. Pacquiao wants to face Barrera this coming April. But due to the current development, the fight might not happen. - GMANews.TV